- Manatees are marine mammals (which means they breathe air) and their closest relative is the ELEPHANT.
- Manatees generally swim at 5 mph but can sprint up to 25 mph.
- Manatees have small brains but are highly intelligent.
- Manatees eat about 15% of their body weight per day – 150 lbs. for a 1,000 lb. manatee. They feed mainly on seagrass.
- Manatees are only about 3% body fat. That is why they are subject to cold water and will suffer hypothermia if the water temperature drops below 68 degrees. The springs in King’s Bay stay at a constant 72 degrees year-round and that is why the manatees migrate there.
- Manatees usually come to the surface every 3 to 5 minutes to breathe.
- Female manatees carry their calves for 14 months. The calf will stay with its mother up to 4 years.
- Manatees have no natural predators and are gentle and non-aggressive.
- Crystal River is known as the Manatee Capital of the World. It is one of the only places in the US where you can legally swim with the manatees.
- Adult manatees can grow to be 9-13 ft. and will usually live 40-60 years.
- Manatees are generally loners. If you see them together with each other it is usually to keep warm near cold springs.
- When they are born, manatees are 3-4 ft. long and weigh 60-70 lbs.
- Manatees have marching molars. That means that their teeth are continually moving from back to front and are being replaced regularly.